“I will kill you!”

We ( and that includes “ME” ) applaud and feel good hearing that a drug pusher or a robber or a trouble-maker gets killed or gunned down. “Good for him, he deserves it”, expressed in ways like “karma, “dapat lang”, tama gyud”, “maayo ra gyud”, “gaba”, mirisi”!

We rejoice that the so-called bad elements are eliminated for good, never to bother us again. We thank the police officers for shooting them down and securing peace and security for everyone. We never bother to find out whether the killing was justified under the rules of engagement. We always say: never mind bringing these bad elements to court or sending them to jail. “Kapoy na mag kaso kaso pa”. Just eliminate them and we’re all okay.

This is the popular sentiment.
In fact, our own Mayor Rody Duterte uses his favorite threats to criminals: “ I will kill you” and people like it. He issued again the threat recently in public media warning rice smugglers. He is loved and admired for that. Not only here in Davao but all over. Mayor Duterte, a lawyer, knows he is not allowed to “kill”. But he has reasons for being “unconventional” or “unorthodox”. ( “Unethical”, Malacanang officials exclaimed, short of describing it as illegal.) He wants to keep his city peaceful and clean it with the so-called “scums and dregs of the earth.” Clearly, his intention is to instill fear in the hearts and minds of those who violate the law. And yes, at times with dead bodies too for good effect. No one bothers to ask how and why.

But let’s pause and think about this for a while. Is the public now enamored or charmed about quick, swift justice? Can we now do shortcuts and forget about going through the usual route of seeking justice? Is our justice system now so shot and so lacking in capability and credibility that we are just too happy to skip it. Are we all desperate for quick fixes, never mind going through the normal route? Are our usual rules no longer effective or working?

We always hear the call for primacy of human rights; that every person, rich or poor, the high and the lowly alike have the same human rights — including even criminals.

“Human rights” exist NOT because of some laws or some grant from the constitution or from government. They arise from the very nature of being a person. It is the essence of being. You violate one’s human rights and you cross the line. Again, let’s not forget: even criminals have human rights, too.
There can be no justification at all, for example, for an unarmed “akyat bahay” gangmember to be killed while in the act of stealing. Or eluding arrest. Unless he forcibly resists and puts in peril the life or limb of others. But we don’t bother with this anymore. Yes, we all applaud and rejoice. A Manila taxi driver at the airport upon my arrival a few days ago told me: “ taga Davao kayo sir? Ang galing ng mayor nyo. Believe kami. Yan ang dapat!”

Symptomatic of our times? Let’s all give it some good thought!